Within the board of SV De Feijenoorder, the official supporters’ association of Feyenoord, disagreement has arisen about a statement by a board member. General board member Gijs van Delft thinks it’s a shame that an anti-Semitic mural about Steven Berghuis has been removed. Board chairman Remco Ravenhorst regrets this opinion and announces that he will enter into discussions with Van Delft.
On Saturday, a mural surfaced on which Berghuis, who left Feyenoord for Ajax, is depicted as a Jew during the Second World War, with the text: ‘Jews always run away’. He was depicted with a caricatured large nose, a yarmulke, a concentration camp shirt and a yellow Star of David. “I think it’s a beautiful drawing. The colors, the appearance it has,” says Van Delft to RTV Rijnmond. Ravenhorst does not agree with that. “If you have to explain why this is tasteless, then it actually makes no sense anymore.”
I saw this graffiti by Berghuis this morning in Rotterdam. Apparently it’s very sensitive… #bayaja pic.twitter.com/jl70AazosT
— J??HN ?? (@John_Rdam) July 24, 2021
Van Delft, who became famous when he was shot in the leg by the police during the ceremony after the championship in 1999, has various tasks on the board and maintains contacts with the more hardcore supporters. He doesn’t see the problem with the Star of David striped pajamas. Yes what’s with that? Christians also walk with a cross. I really don’t understand the problem. It’s satire, you can do anything with it. In Amsterdam supporters walk with Jewish flags. It’s not real, it’s gone after the game. It becomes a problem if you start harassing real Jews.”
“It is my private opinion. I was chosen by people who also think the same,” says the board member of the association. Chairman Ravenhorst is ‘not proud’ of the statements of his fellow director. “It is dangerous for our association and it makes me unhappy. We will discuss it with each other.” The Israel Information and Documentation Center (CIDI) has asked Feyenoord in an open letter to apologize to ‘anyone who has been hurt by this image’. The club wants to ban the maker if the identity becomes known, but does not plan to make an apology, because the club “has no idea who is doing this and therefore no idea how much they really have a relationship with the club,” it said. a spokesperson this weekend.